Three veteran reporters from the Daily Mail have shared their recollections of covering the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their long-term impact in a recent episode of the newspaper's Deep Dive podcast. The discussion marks the upcoming 25th anniversary of the events.
Former US Correspondent Sarah Chalmers was the only Daily Mail reporter in New York City on September 11, 2001. She described the chaos that ensued after the planes struck the Twin Towers, recalling the disbelief and immediate realization that it was not an accident. Chalmers recounted witnessing disoriented and traumatized people covered in ash fleeing the scene, with many walking for hours to reach safety as transportation routes out of the city were shut down.
Chalmers described lying in her West Village apartment that night, unable to sleep due to the noise and the glow from Ground Zero, experiencing a profound sense of isolation and fear. "It felt like the start of a third world war. I thought we're all going to die here," she said.
The following morning, Chalmers made her way to Ground Zero, describing the scene as a war zone filled with dust and rubble. She observed rescue workers, including firefighters and medical personnel, emerging from the debris-covered site. Despite the extensive rescue efforts, she noted the grim realization among the responders that there were no survivors to be found.
David Williams, former Chief Reporter, was in the London newsroom on 9/11. He later spent four months in Afghanistan covering the initial phase of the U.S.-led invasion in pursuit of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks. Stephen Wright, former Chief Crime Correspondent, traveled to New York on one of the first flights from Heathrow after the attacks. His reporting career, he noted, was significantly shaped by the subsequent era of heightened security and counter-terrorism measures.
The podcast also features a minute-by-minute account of the 9/11 attacks narrated by broadcaster Michael Buerk, which is available on podcast platforms.